After you’ve committed to going to an addiction treatment centre, it’s time to plan ahead - in order to be fully prepared for your stay. It’s common to feel stressed over putting things such as your job, bills, or family obligations on hold while you’re in treatment. However, it’s important to understand that all of these things can be dealt with by taking time to prepare for treatment. You have already made the difficult decision that it’s time to get help. Now, it’s just about taking the appropriate measures that will allow you the best chance at recovery. Our staff and counsellors are always compassionate and helpful, but clients still need to ready their bodies and minds for what’s coming. They also need to limit their distractions and worries by addressing any concerns at home before they leave.

Take care of work and family obligations

Not all individuals entering residential treatment have the same obligations. Some clients will need to organise time out of work and some will require to make arrangements for family members. You might be hesitant to mention your upcoming treatment programme to your employer, but anyone who appreciates you as an employee will want you to get better. They want the healthiest, happiest and best version of you, so the sooner you can let your employer know, the better. If you’re a caregiver to children, elderly parents, or even your pets, now is the time to make sure your loved ones are being taken care of while you’re away. Ask your family or friends to look after your children or pets; or look into options for temporary care. It will help put your mind at ease to know the people you love are in good hands while you’re away.

Tie up any financial or legal loose ends

If you have bills that need to be paid while you’re away, make sure you sign up for automatic payments, or speak to someone you trust about making sure your bills get paid. You definitely won’t want to come back, ready to tackle life, and be saddled with financial stresses. If necessary, make sure the courts know – whether via your own correspondence or through your solicitor – that you’ll be entering a residential treatment programme, so they are aware you may be out of touch.

Take the essentials – and only the essentials

It can be tempting to bring everything with you that reminds you of home but taking only things you really need will make sure you are adhering to your treatment centre’s set of allowed items. Remember that the clothes and stuff you can get later, but you probably won’t have another opportunity to save your life. Different treatment centres provide different items, but the things most clients will need to bring, include:

• Comfortable clothing
• Workout wear
• Books for pleasure reading
• Toiletries

Most residential treatment programmes will also require addicts to leave mobile phones, laptops, and other forms of electronic communication at home. These devices are distractions and addicts are usually not allowed to communicate with people outside their clinics for the first few weeks of care. By sticking to the essentials, you will also minimise any outside distractions that can compromise your sobriety. While in treatment, your focus should be mostly on yourself and getting the best treatment you can, so leave any ‘extras’ behind – they’ll be there for you when you get back.

Having the right attitude

Ultimately, having a positive attitude and acknowledging the need for help are crucial to progress. Out of denial and fear, some addicts become quickly disillusioned with their treatment. Because of their reduced cravings, they may believe that they’re ready to face the world on their own after just a few days. This is when believing in the process and having the best attitude makes all the difference.

Talk to loved ones

Finally, clients facing residential treatment should talk openly and honestly with their families before they leave. They may be embarrassed to tell their parents and children that they need addiction treatment, but getting help is nothing to be ashamed of. The support of well-informed family members can also prove invaluable during and after treatment. Tabor Group is a leading provider of residential addiction treatment services in Ireland. We provide support and care to hundreds of clients suffering from addictions to alcohol, substances, gambling and eating disorders. For more information on Tabor Group’s services click here.